New Programs Proposed For South Broward Schools

New programs proposed for schools in south Broward County run the gamut of topics, from international studies to jazz to environmental preservation.

At Nova Middle School in Davie, for example, bilingual students will learn science using a new curriculum written specially to address their needs as youngsters starting to learn English.

The school has received a federal grant to write the new curriculum and begin using the program, said Francine Black, coordinator of the new program.

``It`s difficult for the bilingual students to learn English and science at the same time,`` Black said. ``There is a need for a curriculum that approaches science as a second language.``

Students in the bilingual program will begin using the new curriculum later this month.

The curriculum will mostly use visuals to teach science with a minimal amount of reading.

``It`ll really brings science to where students can see and touch it,`` Black said.

If it is successful, Black said the new program will serve as a model for other schools nationwide.

At another school in Davie, Nova High School, a $46,000 grant from the state Department of Education will be used to train its staff to counsel students.

Every professional person at Nova High next year will learn how to counsel and advise students, said Dawn VanArsdall, assistant principal.

The trained professionals won`t replace the school`s regular counselors, VanArsdall said. Instead, the idea is to have a limited number of students assigned to a particular professional for advisement about anything from graduation requirements to drugs, VanArsdall said.

``We think we can reach more students this way,`` she said.

Two schools east of Florida`s Turnpike in south Broward also are planning new programs.

To increase enrollment at Hallandale High School, Superintendent William Leary is recommending that its foreign language curriculum be expanded to create an international studies program.

The program will be the first of its kind for Broward County, school officials said.

Incoming ninth graders throughout Broward County are eligible to apply for the program, which is proposed to begin this fall.

``We will be the only school in Broward County with an international studies curriculum,`` said Patricia Grimes, prinicipal. ``We feel that there is an interest for the program.``

The program will include classes in seven foreign languages, and courses in international law, comparative political and economic systems, art in other cultures and legal systems of other countries.

Grimes said students in the program will substitute their regular elective courses with classes from the international studies program.

``The students who are accepted into the program won`t have to meet any special academic standards, but they will have to have the ability to succeed,`` Grimes said.

But even with the addition of the new program, enrollment at the high school isn`t expected to increase that much, Grimes said. Its current enrollment of about 1,200 is only projected to climb to 1,300 in the fall, she said.

A final public hearing before the school board is scheduled Feb. 12. The board is expected to decide whether the proposed program at Hallandale will be accepted or whether performing arts and environmental studies programs will be established at Bethune Elementary in Hollywood.

Bethune Elementary Principal Ronald Broman, who is on temporary leave, said school officials have discussed in general the establishment of a performing arts curriculum at Bethune.

``We haven`t talked specifics, but I favor getting back to an original American art form -- jazz,`` Broman said.